stdClass Object
(
[ID] => 19643
[post_author] => 23
[post_date] => 2018-12-07 11:14:05
[post_date_gmt] => 2018-12-07 11:14:05
[post_content] =>
Look into my lights.
My memory buds
with a song of sunlight,
a stretching of roots.
A shoot-tip sigh
as I part the earthen sky.
Look into my lights.
My memory branches
into arctic cold nights,
and a kaleidoscope of days.
I am born in every forest’s heart,
a guiding light out of the dark.
Look into my lights.
My memory creaks
into a lightning strike
cracking the sky.
I break from the ground,
the stars are my crown.
Look into my lights.
My sap of memory rings
with a grandma by candlelight
slipping chestnuts into stockings,
as children nest in my scent
with dreams full of presents.
Look into my lights.
Now I’m a Christmas tree.
Now I’m a spruce.
A pine.
A palm.
A cedar.
An acer.
An oak.
A baobab.
I am within all trees.
You have sat beneath my branches.
Look into my lights.
See the heartwood within me
The spirit of every delight.
The spirit of every tree, everywhere.
Whenever humanity sits and shares.
Wherever there is love and care.
Look into my lights -
see me there.
[post_title] => Look into My Lights
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => closed
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[post_password] =>
[post_name] => look-into-my-lights
[to_ping] =>
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[post_modified] => 2018-12-11 18:01:32
[post_modified_gmt] => 2018-12-11 18:01:32
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => http://poems.poetrysociety.org.uk/?post_type=poems&p=19643
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[post_type] => poems
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[wpcf-published-in] =>
[wpcf-date-published] => 2018
[wpcf-summary-description] => This poem was commissioned by The Poetry Society and inspired by poetry sent in from pupils at schools around Westminster, and is displayed around the base of the 2018 Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree. A symbol of Anglo-Norwegian friendship, a tree for Trafalgar Square has been given to the people of London by the City of Oslo since 1947 in gratitude for British support during the Second World War. This poem was performed on 6 December 2018 by Year 4 pupils from St Clement Danes Primary School.
Banner artwork by James Brown.
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)
[poet_data] => stdClass Object
(
[ID] => 19644
[forename] =>
[surname] =>
[title] => Joseph Coelho
[slug] => joseph-coelho
[content] =>
Joseph Coelho's poems have been published in several Macmillan anthologies including Green Glass Beads edited by Jacqueline Wilson. Joseph has been a guest poet on CBeebies Rhyme Rocket where he was beamed up from The Rhyme Rock to perform his Bug Poem and has featured alongside Michael Rosen and Valerie Bloom on Radio 4’s Poetry Playtime. His debut children's collection Werewolf Club Rules is published by Frances Lincoln and was the winner of the 2015 CLPE CLiPPA Poetry Award. His Collection for older readers Overheard In A Tower Block was long-listed for the 2018 Carnegie Medal, short-listed for the 2018 CLPE CLiPPA award and is currently long-listed for the 2019 UKLA Book Awards. He recently finished filming Teach Poetry a 10 part BBC online series that aims to make the writing of poetry fun and accessible to all.
As well as poetry Joseph Also writes picture books like Luna Loves Library Day published by Andersen Press and non-fiction books like How To Write Poems published by Bloomsbury. All of his work has poetry and an element of performance at its heart making his festival and school session dynamic occasions. As playwright. Joseph has written plays for companies including: Soho Theatre, Polka Theatre, Theatre Royal York, Oily Cart, The Spark Children's Festival, Islington Community Theatre, and Pied Piper Theatre Company. His plays have received special note from Soho's Verity Bargate Award and The Bruntwood Playwriting Competition.
)
)
stdClass Object
(
[ID] => 19644
[forename] =>
[surname] =>
[title] => Joseph Coelho
[slug] => joseph-coelho
[content] =>
Joseph Coelho's poems have been published in several Macmillan anthologies including Green Glass Beads edited by Jacqueline Wilson. Joseph has been a guest poet on CBeebies Rhyme Rocket where he was beamed up from The Rhyme Rock to perform his Bug Poem and has featured alongside Michael Rosen and Valerie Bloom on Radio 4’s Poetry Playtime. His debut children's collection Werewolf Club Rules is published by Frances Lincoln and was the winner of the 2015 CLPE CLiPPA Poetry Award. His Collection for older readers Overheard In A Tower Block was long-listed for the 2018 Carnegie Medal, short-listed for the 2018 CLPE CLiPPA award and is currently long-listed for the 2019 UKLA Book Awards. He recently finished filming Teach Poetry a 10 part BBC online series that aims to make the writing of poetry fun and accessible to all.
As well as poetry Joseph Also writes picture books like Luna Loves Library Day published by Andersen Press and non-fiction books like How To Write Poems published by Bloomsbury. All of his work has poetry and an element of performance at its heart making his festival and school session dynamic occasions. As playwright. Joseph has written plays for companies including: Soho Theatre, Polka Theatre, Theatre Royal York, Oily Cart, The Spark Children's Festival, Islington Community Theatre, and Pied Piper Theatre Company. His plays have received special note from Soho's Verity Bargate Award and The Bruntwood Playwriting Competition.
)

Look into my lights.
My memory buds
with a song of sunlight,
a stretching of roots.
A shoot-tip sigh
as I part the earthen sky.
Look into my lights.
My memory branches
into arctic cold nights,
and a kaleidoscope of days.
I am born in every forest’s heart,
a guiding light out of the dark.
Look into my lights.
My memory creaks
into a lightning strike
cracking the sky.
I break from the ground,
the stars are my crown.
Look into my lights.
My sap of memory rings
with a grandma by candlelight
slipping chestnuts into stockings,
as children nest in my scent
with dreams full of presents.
Look into my lights.
Now I’m a Christmas tree.
Now I’m a spruce.
A pine.
A palm.
A cedar.
An acer.
An oak.
A baobab.
I am within all trees.
You have sat beneath my branches.
Look into my lights.
See the heartwood within me
The spirit of every delight.
The spirit of every tree, everywhere.
Whenever humanity sits and shares.
Wherever there is love and care.
Look into my lights –
see me there.